Ukrainian Armed Forces counterattack near Avdiivka, make progress — ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared the information in its report.

Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Avdiivka and made a confirmed advance on November 19. Geolocated footage released on November 19 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced near the railroad southeast of Stepove (3 km northwest of Avdiivka). 

A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces had recaptured positions near the railroad in the area of Stepove and counterattacked near the Avdiivka Coke Plant. 

On November 19, Russian troops conducted offensive operations near Avdiivka, but did not achieve any confirmed success. On November 18 and 19, Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian troops had advanced in the area of an industrial zone on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka, the Avdiivka Coke Plant, and the railway west and northwest of Krasnohorivka (5 km northwest of Avdiivka).

A Russian milblogger claimed on November 19 that elements of the Russian 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st Army Corps of the “DPR”) and Storm-Z units had advanced near the Tsarskaya Okhota restaurant south of Avdiivka, but later retracted the claim after other Russian sources denied it. 

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked south of Novokalynove (13 km northeast of Avdiivka), east of Novobakhmutivka (9 km northwest of Avdiivka), and near Sieverne (6 km west of Avdiivka) and Avdiivka. 

Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Tavria group of Ukrainian troops, said on November 19 that the number of Russian deserters and soldiers refusing to engage in offensive operations is increasing, forcing the Russian command to use physical force and barrier detachments to push Russian troops into battle. Shtupun stated that Russian troops suffered heavy losses near Avdiivka and were forced to deploy mobilized personnel and penal recruits.

• The evening report of the Ukrainian General Staff for November 19 stated that in the Avdiivka direction, Russian troops unsuccessfully conducted assault operations south of Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Sieverne and Avdiivka, Donetsk region, where the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9 attacks.